# SDL\_mixer channel question

**URL:** <https://discourse.libsdl.org/t/sdl-mixer-channel-question/7884>\
**Category:** SDL Development\
**Created:** [December 7, 2002, 8:07am UTC](https://discourse.libsdl.org/t/sdl-mixer-channel-question/7884 "2002-12-07T08:07:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mika\_Halttunen](https://discourse.libsdl.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mika\_Halttunen](https://discourse.libsdl.org/u/Mika_Halttunen)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 8:07am UTC](https://discourse.libsdl.org/t/sdl-mixer-channel-question/7884/1 "2002-12-07T08:07:01Z")

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Hi, I’ve got a simple question this time:  
How many simultaneuosly playing channels does the SDL\_mixer actually support?  
I’m asking because the readme says it supports 8, and in it’s library page  
(from [libsdl.org](http://libsdl.org) / Libraries / SDL\_mixer) reads that it supports any number  
of channels. So what’s the correct amount, and if it’s 8, why so? IMHO at  
least 16 is minium these days 😉

Thanks.–  
Mika Halttunen  
@Mika_Halttunen

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**Author:** ![Pete\_Shinners](https://discourse.libsdl.org/user_avatar/discourse.libsdl.org/pete_shinners/32/137_2.png) [@Pete\_Shinners](https://discourse.libsdl.org/u/Pete_Shinners)\
**Post date:** [December 7, 2002, 9:41am UTC](https://discourse.libsdl.org/t/sdl-mixer-channel-question/7884/2 "2002-12-07T09:41:01Z")

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Mika Halttunen wrote:

> Hi, I’ve got a simple question this time:  
> How many simultaneuosly playing channels does the SDL\_mixer actually support?  
> I’m asking because the readme says it supports 8, and in it’s library page  
> (from [libsdl.org](http://libsdl.org) / Libraries / SDL\_mixer) reads that it supports any number  
> of channels. So what’s the correct amount, and if it’s 8, why so? IMHO at  
> least 16 is minium these days 😉

SDL\_mixer defaults to using 8 channels. you can change the number of  
active channels at any time with “Mix\_AllocateChannels(int numchans)”.  
you can set it to any number you’d like. performance and MAXINT should  
be the only limiting factors.

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**Author:** ![Mika\_Halttunen](https://discourse.libsdl.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mika\_Halttunen](https://discourse.libsdl.org/u/Mika_Halttunen)\
**Post date:** [December 8, 2002, 10:40am UTC](https://discourse.libsdl.org/t/sdl-mixer-channel-question/7884/3 "2002-12-08T10:40:01Z")

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Pete Shinners wrote:

> SDL\_mixer defaults to using 8 channels. you can change the number of  
> active channels at any time with “Mix\_AllocateChannels(int numchans)”.  
> you can set it to any number you’d like. performance and MAXINT should  
> be the only limiting factors.

Ok, thanks. I think it’s worth to mention this in readme though.–  
Mika Halttunen  
@Mika_Halttunen